Stacker mechanism for coil springs



2, 1958 M. J. NELSON ETAL 2,862,630

' STACKER MECHANISM FOR COIL SPRINGS Filed Aug. 8, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 J0 J0 J3 IN V EN TORS '/arZ'Zm J/Vebora Z ward $2 2034 Dec. 2, 1958 M. J. NELSON EFAI. 2,862,530

STACKER MECHANISM FOR COIL SPRINGS .4 SheetsESheet 3 Filed Aug. 8, 1952 INVEN'OR MWZZMJ/I wawdjirea zi s diam Dec.2, 1958 JJNELSQN ETAL 2,862,630

- STACKER-MECHANISM FOR COIL SPRINGS Filed Aug. 8, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q I INVENTORS, fl n? f llsaw Md 7 057552 6021;

United States Patent 2,862,630 STACKER MECHANISM FOR (H. SPGS Application August 8, 1952, Serial No. scar/'7 7 Claims. (Cl. 214-6) This invention relates to stacker mechanisms for coil spring producing machines and is an improvement over that disclosed in copending application Serial No. 243,524, filed by Martin J. Nelson and Clifford E. Ives on August 24, 1951, now Patent No. 2,718,314. Thestacker mechanism of this invention, while generally applicable to various types of coil spring producing machines, is particularly adaptable for use with the coil spring producing machine shown and described in William E. Wunderlich copending application Serial No. 700,197, filed September 30, 1946, now Patent No. 2,604,202.

Coil spring producing machines, such, for example, as the one disclosed in the aforementioned William E. Wunderlich application, usually include a coiling mechanism, knotting mechanisms, a stacker mechanism and a transfer mechanism for advancing the coil springs from the coiling mechanism through the knottermechanisms to the stacker mechanism. The stacker mechanism receives the coil springs from the transfer mechanism and stacks the same in conveniently handled bundles. In so stacking, each coil spring is telescopically received in each previously stacked coil spring. Considerable difiiculty has been encountered in such stacker mechanisms in accurately nesting the coil springs in a stacker and in advancing the stacked coil springs into and along the stacking channel.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved stacker mechanism for coil springs which accurately nests coil springs in uniform stacks, which uniformly, advances stacked coil springs into and along a stacking channel, which is fully adjustable for handling coil springs of different diameters and different lengths,

, which is foolproof in operation, which is simple and straight-forward in construction and which may be readily and inexpensively manufactured and serviced. The stacker mechanism of this invention differs generally from the stacker mechanism of the aforementioned Martin J. Nelson and Clifford E. Ives copending application in the particular manner in which the coil springs are stacked and the manner in which the stacked coil springs are advanced, these manners beingsimpler and a decided improvement over those of the aforementioned copending application.

Further objects of this invention reside in the details of construction of the stacker mechanism and in the cooperative relationships between the component parts thereof.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying specification, claims and drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an illustration of a coil spring producing machine with the stacker mechanism of this invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the stacker mechanism taken substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3. is a perspective view of a coil spring which is ice adapted to be nested in stacks by the stacker mechanism of this invention;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the stacker mechanism taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the stacker mechanism taken substantially along the line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the stacker mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the stacker mechanism taken substantially along the line 7-7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 99 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is a partial transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 1ll10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a partial vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 1111 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a partial transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 12-12 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of one of the spring engaging members.

Referring first to Fig. 3, a coil spring to be stacked by the stacking mechanism is generally designated at 10. It includes a plurality of inner convolutions or turns 11 and a pair of end turns 12. The end turns 12 terminate in knots 13. The coil spring may be plain, as illustrated, or the end turns thereof may be crimped or oflfset,.if so desired. As will be noted, the knots 13 are in substan-v tial alignment.

Any suitable machine may be utilized for the purpose fingers 18 carried by radial arms 19 of a transfer mecha nism 20, which is intermittently rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The coil springs 10 thus formed and grasped by the fingers 18 are advanced to a knotting mechanism 21 wherein one end of the coil spring 10 is knotted as at 13 and, if desired, crimped into an offset. The coil springs 10 are then advanced to a second knotting mechanism 22 where the other end of the coil spring is knotted and may also be' crimped into an offset, if so desired. The knotted coil spring Ill is then advanced by the transfer mechanism 20 to a heat treating mechanism generally designated at 23 and which may take the form disclosed. in copending application Serial No. 235,154, filed July 5, 1951 by Martin J. Nelson and Clifford E. Ives. After the coil springsltl are heat treated, they are advanced by the transfer mechanism to the stacker mechanism of this invention, generally designated at 24, wherein the coil springs are stacked in nested form. Since the coil spring producing machine illustrated in Fig. l is fully disclosed in the aforementioned William E- Wunderlich application, a further description thereof is not considered necessary.

The stacker mechanism 24 of this invention includes a.

supporting base 27 having an attaching flange28 for mounting the same on the base or standard 16 of the coilspring producing machine. It is provided ,witha suitable transversely located journal for rotatably journalling a shaft 29 which has secured thereto a crank arm 30. The crank arm 30 is connected by a link 31 to a crank arm 32 operated by the coil spring producing ma chine 15. Thus, as the coil spring producing machine By manipulating the sprocket chain 40 the screw studs 35 and 37 are simultaneously rotated and they may be locked in desired rotative positions by means of a setscrew 41 engaging the screw stud 37.

The screw stud 35 engages screw threads 44 in a bracket 43 having a transverse portion 45 which in turn carries a rod 46. Likewise, the screw stud 37 engages screw threads 48 in a bracket 47 having a transverse portion 49 which in turn carries a rod 50. The vertical positions of the brackets 43 and 47 and, hence, the vertical position of the stacker mechanism of this invention are adjusted by manipulating the sprocket wheels 38 and 39. V a

The rod 46 adjustably carries a pair of blocks 54 which are secured in adjusted position thereon'by means of setscrews 55. Likewise, the rod 50 adjustably carries a pair of blocks 56 which are adjustably secured in position thereon by means of setscrews 57. A pair of side plates 58 are secured to the blocks 54 and 56 by means of bolts 59 and 60. The side plates 58 are adapted to receive coil springs therebetween and the spacing between the side plates 58 may be adjusted by adjusting the blocks 54 and 56 on their rods 46 and 50 for accommodating coil springs of different lengths. A pair of angle members 61 are carried by the inner faces of the side plates 58 and form supports for the coil springs interposed between the side plates.

A pair of plates 64 are secured to the side plates 58 by screws 65, the plates 64 extending upwardly from the side plates 58. Towards the rear of the plates 64 they are provided with a step 66 to provide a forward coil spring receiving portion and a rear coil spring stacking portion, the transverse dimension of the coil spring receiving portion being less than the transverse dimen- Sion of the coil spring stacking portion by a distance determined by the steps 66. A pair of spacer plates 67 carry a pair of compressing plates 68 by means of rivets69 and these two plates are secured by screws 70 to the forward ends of the side. plates 58 below the plates 64, as indicated in more detail in Figs. and 12. The coil springs formed by the coil spring producing machine are fed upwardly by the transfer mechanism between the compressor plates 68 where they are longitudinally compressed, and they are released in the coil spring receiving portion between the plates 64, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 9.

The outer sides of the upwardly extending plates 64 have a pair of 'blocks 72 secured to their forward ends by screws 73 and a pair of blocks 74 secured to their rear ends by screws 75. These blocks carry a pair of rods 76 spaced outwardly from the plates 64. In substantial transverse alignment with the rods 76, the plates 64 are provided with a pair of slots 77 which extend from a point in the coil spring receiving portion to a point in the coil spring stacking portion, as illustrated more clearly in Figs. 5 and 6. a

The rods 76 longitudinally slidably carry a pair of crosshead members 80, the details of which are more clearly shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Each block 80 is provided with a transverse slot for receiving a plate 81 which is secured in place in the slot by means of screws 82. The plate 81 extends through-the slot 77 in the plate 64. This plate 81, forming an extension of the block 80, is received in a slot 84 of a coil spring engaging member .83 which also is provided with a slot 85.

A screw 86 extends through the slot 85 in the coil spring engaging member 83 into the plate 81 for adjustably securing the coil spring engaging member 83 to the plate 81 and, hence, to the crosshead member 80. The rear faces of the coil spring engaging members 83 are undercut, as indicated at 87, for engaging and guiding the end turns 12 of coil springs 10 inserrted between the plates 64 by the transfer mechanism 20 of the coil spring producing machine 15, as indicated more clearly in Fig. 9.-

The outer faces of the crosshead members 80 each have secured thereto a plate 89 by means of screws 90. Each plate 89 carries a block 91 by means of a stud 92 and nut 93. The blocks 91 are received in slots 94 in the upper ends of crank arms 95 which are secured to the transverse shaft 29. Thus, as the shaft 29 is oscillated in timed relation with the operation of the coil spring producing machine 15, the crank arms 95 are oscillated to longitudinally slidably move the crosshead members 80 along the rods 76, which in turn longitudinally move the coil spring engaging members 83. When a coil spring is inserted between the plates 64, the coil spring engaging members 83 engage the end turns 12 of the coil spring and move the same rearwardly between the plates 64 over the step 66. In so doing, the coil spring is telescoped or nested in the stacked coil springs located rearwardly of the step 66, all as indicated more clearly in Figs. 5 and 9. The undercut portions 87 of the coil spring engaging members 83 assist materially guiding the coil springs into nesting relationship as they are moved rearwardly from the coil spring receiving portion to the coil spring stacking portion of the mechanism. As the coil springs are so stacked, the stack of coil springs is moved rearwardly by the action of the coil spring engaging members 83.

The blocks 54 also rotatably carry toothed wheels 100, the toothed wheels being secured to vertically arranged shafts 101 rotatably mounted in the blocks 54. These toothed wheels 100 extend partially over the side plates 58 so as to engage the end turns 12 of the stacked coil springs 10 interposed therebetween. The lower ends of the vertical shafts 100 have ratchet Wheels 102 secured thereto and they also rotatably carry ratchet levers 103- which are held in place by washers 104 and screws 105.

Fittings 106 are pivotally secured to the ratchet levers 103 by pins 107 and the fittings 106 pivotally carry links 108. The links 108 are also secured through fittings 109- which are pivotally secured to the crank arms so that as the crank arms 95 are oscillated, the ratchet levers 103 are also oscillated in timed relation therewith. The

ratchet levers 103 pivotally carry ratchets 111 by meansof pins 112 and springs 113 carried by pins 114 urge the ratchets 111 into engagement with the teeth on the ratchet wheels 102. Thus, as the ratchet levers 103 are oscillated, the ratchet wheels 102 and the toothed wheels driven thereby are intermittently rotated in a rearward direction. As the toothed wheels 100 are so rotated, the teeth thereof engage the end turns of the stacked coil springs between the side plates 58 also to advance the stacked coil'springs along the stacking portion of the mechanism. a This advancing of the stacked coil springs by the toothed wheels 100 takes considerable of the advancing load from the coil spring engaging members 83 and operates to advance the stacked coil springs with minimum effort and with least likelihood of jamming the stacked coil springs.

The rear of the stacking mechanism has a stacking channel 117 secured thereto by screws 118 for receiving the stacked coil springs.

Thus as the coil springs are individually fed to the stacking mechanism the coil spring engaging members carried by the crosshead members engage'the end turns of the coil spring and individually guide and advance the coil springs from the coil spring receiving portion to the stacking portion for stacking the coils therein and for advancing the coil springs along the stacking portion. The intermittently rotatable toothed wheels located adjacent the stacking portion also engage the end turns of the stacked coil springs for advancing the stacked coil springs along the stacking portion and into the stacking channel. The width of the stacking mechanism may be readily adjusted for accommodating coil springs of diiferent lengths and the height of the stacking mechanism may be adjusted for accommodating coil springs of different diameters; The coiltspring engaging fingers 83 and the toothed wheels too are operated in timed relation with respect to each other and with respect to the coil spring producing machine 15. 7

While for purposes of illustration one form of this invention has been disclosed, other forms thereof may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to this disclosure and, therefore, this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A stacker mechanism for coil springs comprising, a pair of elongated spaced side plate members, each having a step to form a forward coil receiving portion for receiving coil springs under compression and a subsequent wider coil spring stacking portion, a slot in each side plate member extending from a point in the coil spring receiving portion to a point in the coil spring stacking portion, a pair of crosshead members longitudinally slidably mounted on the outside of the side plate members, a spring engaging member rigidly carried by each crosshead member and extending through the slots in the side plate members and being inwardly provided with undercut spring engaging faces for partially receiving and engaging the opposite end turns of the coil springs and individually guiding and advancing the coil springs from the coil spring receiving portion over the step to the stacking portion for stacking the coil springs therein and for advancing the coil springs along the stacking portion.

2. A stacker mechanism for coil springs comprising, a pair of elongated spaced side plate members, each having a step to form a forward coil receiving portion for receiving coil springs under compression and a subsequent wider coil spring stacking portion, a slot in each side plate member extending from a point in the coil spring receiving portion to a point in the coil spring stacking portion, a pair of crosshead members longitudinally slidably mounted on the outside of the side plate members, a spring engaging member rigidly carried by each crosshead member and extending through the slots in the side plate members for engaging the opposite end turns of the coil springs and individually advancing the coil springs from the coil spring receiving portion over the step to the stacking portion for stacking the coil springs therein and for advancing the coil springs along the stacking portion, a pair of intermittently rotatable toothed wheels mounted adjacent the stacking portion of the side plate members and on opposite sides thereof for engaging the opposite end turns of the stacked coil springs in the stacking portion for also advancing the stacked coil springs therealong.

3. A stacker mechanism for coil springs comprising, a pair of elongated spaced side plate members, each having a step to form a forward coil receiving portion for receiving coil springs under compression and a subsequent wider coil spring stacking portion, a slot in each side plate member extending from a point in the coil spring receiving portion to a point in the coil spring stacking portion, a pair of crosshead members longitudinally slidably mounted on the outside of the side plate members, a spring engaging member rigidly carried by each crosshead member and extending through the slots in the side plate members and being inwardly provided with undercut spring partially receiving and engaging faces for engaging the opposite end turns of the coil springs and individually guiding and advancing the coil springs from the coil spring receiving portion to the stacking portion over the step for stacking the coil springs therein and for advancing the coil springs along the stacking portion, a pair of intermittently rotatable toothed wheels mounted adjacent the stacking portion of the side plate members and on opposite sides thereof for engaging the opposite end turns of the stacked coil springs in the stacking portion for also advancing the stacked coil springs therealong.

4. A stacker mechanism for coil springs comprising, a pair of elongated spaced side plate members, each having a step to form a forward coil receiving portion for receiving coil springs under compression and a subsequent wider coil spring stacking portion, a slot in each side plate member extending from a point in the coil spring receiving portion to a point in the coil spring stacking portion, a pair of crosshead members longitudinally slidably mounted on the outside of the side plate members, a spring engaging member rigidly carried by each of said crosshead member and extending through the slots in the side plate members and being inwardly provided with undercut spring engaging faces for partially receiving and engaging the opposite end turns of the coil springs and individually guiding and advancing the coil springs from the coil spring receiving portion over the step to the stacking portion for stacking the coil springs therein and for advancing the coil springs along the stacking portion, and intermittently operating means adjacent the stacking portion of the side plate members for engaging the stacked coil springs, in the stacking portion for also advancing the stacked coil springs therealon'g.

5. A stacker mechanism for coil springs comprising, a pair of elongated spaced side plate members, each having a step to form a forward coil receiving portion for receiving coil springs under compression and a subsequent wider coil spring stacking portion, a slot in each side plate member extending from a point in the coil spring receiving portion to a point in the coil spring stacking portion, a pair of crosshead members longitudinally slidably mounted on the outside of the side plate members, a spring engaging member rigidly carried by each crosshead member and extending through the slots in the side plate members for engaging the opposite end turns of the coil springs and individually advancing the coil springs from the coil spring receiving portion over the step to the stacking portion for stacking the coil springs therein and for advancing the coil springs along the stacking portion, a pair of intermittently rotatable toothed wheels mounted adjacent the stacking portion of the side plate members and on opposite sides thereof for engaging the opposite end turns of the stacked coil springs in the stacking portion for also advancing the stacked coil springs therealong, and means for operating the crosshead members and the toothed wheels in timed relation.

6. A stacker mechanism for coil springs comprising, a pair of elongated spaced side plate members, each having a step to form a forward coil receiving portion for receiving coil springs under compression and a subsequent wider coil spring stacking portion, a slot in each side plate member extending from a point in the coil spring receiving portion to a point in the coil spring stacking portion, a pair of crosshead members longitudinally slidably mounted on the outside of the side plate members, a spring engaging member rigidly carried by each crosshead member and extending through the slots in the side plate members and being inwardly provided with undercut spring engaging faces for partially receiving and engaging the opposite end turns of the coil springs and individually guiding and advancing the coil springs from the coil spring receiving portion over the step to the stacking portion for stacking the coil springs therein and for advancing the coil springs along the stacking portion, a pair of intermittently rotatable toothed wheels mounted adjacent the stacking portion of the side plate members and on opposite sides thereof for engaging the opposite end turns of the stacked coil springs in the stacking portion for also advancing the stacked coil springs therealong, and means for operating the crosshead members and the toothed wheels in timed relation.

7. In a stacker mechanism having a pair of side plate members between which coil springs have been stacked in nested relation with their end turns engaging the respective side plate members, a pair of opposed intermittan'tly rotatable toothed wheels, means for driving said wheels, one of said toothed wheels being rotatably mounted' adjacent one side plate member, the other of said toothed wheels being rotatably mounted adjacent the other side plate member, and the two toothed wheels lying in substantially the same plane with their toothed peripheries engaging the opposite end turns of the nested stacked coil springs for advancing the nested stacked coil springs along the side plate members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Maw Aug. 7, 1928 Ho-odless Feb. 2, 1932 Thum Apr. v14, 1942 Hohl July 3, 1945 Corser Feb. 28, 1950 Paulson Sept. 26, 1950 Schwartz et al Jan. 4, 1955 Nelson et a1 Sept. 20, 1955 

